GDT: WJHC: Canada vs Česko

[Czechboy]

Well, it's time!

The gold medal favs Canada with a ridiculous forward group against the Czechs (who have not medalled since 2005).

In the last 30 years this series has Canada with a slight edge at 20-1-2.

We played twice just this summer and the scores were 5-1 and 5-2 for Canada.

David Jiricek has been living in airports like Tom Hanks in 'The Terminal' and has no gear and may not play. To recap his WJHC career... Injured in period 1 and tournament over. Then got covid and was not himself the next tournament. Now has no gear for tournament 3. If he is available next year and declines... I don't blame.him!

Things to look for:. Bedard, Fantilli and Wright. They will have a fun time today.

The big thing though is that we are back in smaller town Canadian rinks in front of insanely proud Canadian fans and the atmosphere should be insane. This is how it should always be when Canada hosts! No more NHL towns please!

Good luck to both. I'm guessing Canada 6-2. Preying for no injuries to key Czech players.

Spengler has Canada vs Prague a little earlier if you are into the eggnog early. That game should be closer.

Lineups:

Click to read more...

 

[jj cale]

Cesko eh?, gonna take some time to get used to.

Need to start burying prime chances at a better rate, 2nd line needs to get clicking, Gaudreau needs to be tested and pass the tests. Just how effective is Wright going to be in this tournament?

And for the last time, this team ain't no rival of the 2005 team, not by a long shot.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

I thought it was Czechia? They gonna get pumped either way

 

[hockey20000]

cesko? did you change names agian lol.

 

[Ducati Boy]

For those of us living outside the worlds of TSN and Big Hockey Media (Asia), how can we access these games?

PM is welcome.

 

[czechcanadian]

Česko… sounds beautiful. Thank you for doing that. Nice change from Chechnya lol
Expecting a pretty good game here, but yeah, that atmosphere will be wild.
I think if Czechs can weather the early storm of 5-10 minutes of Canada pressure without conceding, and maybe pop in an early one, it could be interesting. Otherwise I see a 5-1 Canadian victory.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

I would like to see Czechia and Slovakia reunite into the former Czechoslovakia for the purpose of fielding a national hockey team that can compete for a medal in world hockey. I miss the days of Jan Hrdina and Vlady Ruzicka.

 

[cmcneil02]

Potentially no Dylan Guenther tonight for Canada.

 

[hockey20000]

Potentially no Dylan Guenther tonight for Canada.

damn injuries already

 

[Swipes]

Gotta hold Canada from scoring for as long as possible, then hit them on the counter.

 

[Czechboy]

Jan Hrdina and Vlady Ruzicka.

Those are 2 Czechs.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Those are 2 Czechs.

But the soul of that team were the Slovakians!

 

[Czechboy]

Česko… sounds beautiful. Thank you for doing that. Nice change from Chechnya lol
Expecting a pretty good game here, but yeah, that atmosphere will be wild.
I think if Czechs can weather the early storm of 5-10 minutes of Canada pressure without conceding, and maybe pop in an early one, it could be interesting. Otherwise I see a 5-1 Canadian victory.

Thank you for the spelling with accent.. now in the title.

As far as I know the jerseys now say Cesko.

Same as Finn Jerseys saying Suomi!

 

[Swipes]

Thank you for the spelling with accent.. now in the title.

View attachment 626710

As far as I know the jerseys now say Cesko.

Same as Finn Jerseys saying Suomi!

Is it official though? Are we still Czechia or did the Czech federation ask that we are now called Cesko?

 

[Czechboy]

But the soul of that team were the Slovakians!

I love my Slovak hockey and cheer hard for them. I don't want us to combine though. At the best on best level there would be one less team and the new Czechoslovakia would not be a gold contender. We're talking replacing Radim Simek with Erik Cernak and Libor Hajek with Martin Fehervary. That would be about it today.

Having said that.. at this particular tournament in 2023... if all guys were available then that would actually be a gold medal contender for this one tourney but the other 19 it wouldn't have made a lick of difference.

But yeah.. for fun

Nemec and Jiricek on top pair
Slafkovsky, Kulich, Mesar, Dvorsky etc.

They would be a damn good team!

 

[Czechboy]

Is it official though? Are we still Czechia or did the Czech federation ask that we are now called Cesko?

Cesko is what Czech people call it and I think, unfortunately, Czechia is what the rest of the world is supposed to call us. I hate 'Czechia'! So I'll go with the Jersey.lol I've never heard Zaruba refer to us as Czechia for instance. and I've heard several TSN guys call us Chechnya.lol

 

[Swipes]

Cesko is what Czech people call it and I think, unfortunately, Czechia is what the rest of the world is supposed to call us. I hate 'Czechia'! So I'll go with the Jersey.lol I've never heard Zaruba refer to us as Czechia for instance. and I've heard several TSN guys call us Chechnya.lol

Yes, I'm totally on board with Cesko, I hate Czechia too. Was just wondering if it was official like Turkiye etc.

 

[Czechboy]

Yes, I'm totally on board with Cesko, I hate Czechia too. Was just wondering if it was official like Turkiye etc.

It's easier to pronounce for non Czechs too.. .I hope they change it to Cesko one day and just move on. For the record, I think Suomi sounds nicer than FInland too!

 

[Czechboy]

I thought it was Czechia? They gonna get pumped either way

It's not a good outlook for the Czechs today.lol I could honestly see Canada scoring around 30 goals in the round robin. I think they're going to run the table as Swedes are missing their Top 3 D. Then an easy quarter for even more goals.

I actually feel bad for Canuck fans as you may not get a competitve match till the Semi's.

Good luck!

 

[EddieTheEagle]

It's not a good outlook for the Czechs today.lol I could honestly see Canada scoring around 30 goals in the round robin. I think they're going to run the table as Swedes are missing their Top 3 D. Then an easy quarter for even more goals.

I actually feel bad for Canuck fans as you may not get a competitve match till the Semi's.

Good luck!

This feels aaaaawful jinxy.

 

[Czechboy]

This feels aaaaawful jinxy.

It's the only Canadian threat IMO... smoke everyone for 5 games... 35 goals for and 5 goals against. Then a semi matchup with a Finn/Swede/US team who's dealt with adversity and have been grinding and defending. Start clutching the sticks, teen hormones, home ice becomes a disadvantage as it gets much quieter and everyone feels it.

Do I think that will happen? NO

I think Canada cruises to gold here and becomes the first nation to win a back to back gold in a while. Time will tell.

 

[jj cale]

It's the only Canadian threat IMO... smoke everyone for 5 games... 35 goals for and 5 goals against. Then a semi matchup with a Finn/Swede/US team who's dealt with adversity and have been grinding and defending. Start clutching the sticks, teen hormones, home ice becomes a disadvantage as it gets much quieter and everyone feels it.

Do I think that will happen? NO

I think Canada cruises to gold here and becomes the first nation to win a back to back gold in a while. Time will tell.

I'm blushing over here C.B.

 

[Gold Standard]

Česko… sounds beautiful. Thank you for doing that. Nice change from Chechnya lol
Expecting a pretty good game here, but yeah, that atmosphere will be wild.
I think if Czechs can weather the early storm of 5-10 minutes of Canada pressure without conceding, and maybe pop in an early one, it could be interesting. Otherwise I see a 5-1 Canadian victory.

Czechia is what the Russians always called the Czech Rep. So given that, I'm happy to drop the horrific Russian sounding Czechia for beautiful sounding Cesko.

 

[Statsy]

Well, it's time!

The gold medal favs Canada with a ridiculous forward group against the Czechs (who have not medalled since 2005).

In the last 30 years this series has Canada with a slight edge at 20-1-2.

We played twice just this summer and the scores were 5-1 and 5-2 for Canada.

David Jiricek has been living in airports like Tom Hanks in 'The Terminal' and has no gear and may not play. To recap his WJHC career... Injured in period 1 and tournament over. Then got covid and was not himself the next tournament. Now has no gear for tournament 3. If he is available next year and declines... I don't blame.him!

Things to look for:. Bedard, Fantilli and Wright. They will have a fun time today.

The big thing though is that we are back in smaller town Canadian rinks in front of insanely proud Canadian fans and the atmosphere should be insane. This is how it should always be when Canada hosts! No more NHL towns please!

Good luck to both. I'm guessing Canada 6-2. Preying for no injuries to key Czech players.

Spengler has Canada vs Prague a little earlier if you are into the eggnog early. That game should be closer.

Great write-up, man! Now that’s how to open a game thread.

 

[GM Armchair]

Hoping to set the tone early with this game. Hoping a 8-1 win. Good luck and no injuries would be perfect.